Three quick goals at the start of both the first and second halves spurred the fourth-ranked Northwestern women's lacrosse team to a 15-8 win over Ivy League champion Penn Saturday in Evanston.

The Wildcats (15-2) went ahead 3-0 just 2 minutes, 29 seconds into the game and stretched a three-goal halftime lead to six by scoring three times in the first 2:21 after intermission.

Senior Erin Fitzgerald had four goals as Northwestern ended its regular season with a seventh straight victory over the Quakers (9-5).

Senior Taylor Thornton and junior Christy Turner led one of the best Wildcat defensive efforts of the season, holding Penn to just 16 shots and pressuring the Quakers into 10 turnovers. Sophomore goalie Bridget Bianco (6 saves) had a second straight strong effort after the worst of her career in a 22-4 loss to Florida.

Northwestern moves on to the American Lacrosse Conference tournament in Baltimore, where they are second seed (behind Florida). The Wildcats have a first-round bye and will meet the Penn State - Vanderbilt winner in Friday's semfinals.